Truss



(nom.)

L.WBSTINGHOUSE. a A Truss.

No. 236,922. A Patented um.l 25,1881.

l f UNITED. `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

truss. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the faststrap A.

, to the straps R,.S, and T, the latter extending from the back piecealong the outer face ofthe strap C through a loop, U, at the end of G.

. l LEVI WESTINGHOUSE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,922, dated January25, 1881.

Application filed October 2, 188D. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI WEsTINGnoUsE, of St. Louis, in the countyof St.Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Trusses; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being hadto theaccompanyin g drawings, which forma partof this specification.

Figure l is a view, in perspective, of a truss provided with myimprovements. Fi'g. 2 is an internal view of the back plate of the pad.Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the pad and pad-frame. Fig. 4 isa rear View of the ening or clasp by which the truss is adjusted to thewearer. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view vertically of thefastening, and Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the securingwedge.

This invention has relation to trusses; and it consists of the Vimprovedfeatures of construction and combination hereinafter fully described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A A' designate thewaist-straps; B, the back piece or pad, and C the strap which is passedbetween the limbs of the wearer.

The pad-'frame is constructed of two metal plates, D D', securedtogether by screws E, to form a chamber, F, in which is placed thespring G, bearing against a stud, H, at one end, and a notchedprojection, I, of a pivoted arm, J, at the other.

K designates a slide working in ways L on the under face ofthe backplate, D', of the padframe, having a stud, M, on its upper face, whichprojects througha slot, N, in the plate D". The back plate, D', is alsoprovided on its upper face with studs P P 2 the former for the receptionof the loops Q upon the straps R R, by which the connection is formedbetween the pad andthe waist-strap A, and the loop upon the strap Sfastened to the waist- Rivets are used to connect the loops The metalloop V is passed over the stud M, and when the truss is in lplace on thewearer the yielding stud M regulates the tension on the strap G, causingit to take up the slack occasioned by a chau ge of position on the partof the wearer, the tendency of the stud M being in the direction of thetop of the slot N. Buttons W are secured upon the studs M, P, P', and P2by screws X, driven through said buttons W into the shanks of the saidstuds. The slide K is connected to the pivoted arm J by an auxiliaryarm, Z.

The fastening or clasp employed in this truss, in lieu of the ordinarybuckle, consists of a wedge-shaped or tapering sheath, A2, through whichthe connecting-straps are passed, and are held in place therein by awedge, a, having a shoulder, b, upon its upper face at its point, and arecess, c, and a transverse han ge, d, on its under face. The under faceof the sheath A2 is provided with a stud and button, e, by which it isfastened to the strap or back piece of the truss, as the case may be.The wed ge is placed upon the embossed face of the small straps used toconnect and adjust the several parts of the truss, the wedge a beinginserted in the sheath, with the shoulder b against the forward edge ofthe sheath A2. The strap is inserted from the smaller end of the sheathA2 and is passed back the required distance. When any forward straincomes upon the strap the wedge a will move forward in the sheath A2, andthe iiange d will bind the strap and hold it afte'r it has moved a veryshort distance in the sheath. The end of the strap which passes betweenthe limbs of the wearer is connected` to the sliding stud M, which has atendency at all times to seek the upper end of the slot N, so that thestrap, which, when first connected, draws the stud M away from the upperportion of the slot N, will have a uniform tension if, by a change inthe position of the wearer, it should slacken, as the spring wouldoperate the yielding stud and take up the slack. This constructionpermits the pad to be always held to place while being worn. The strapsdo not need to be weakened by punching holes for the buckletongue, andthe clasps may be adj usted more accurately than where the ordinarybuckle is employed.

IOO

The truss is simple, durable, and no more expensive than thoseordinarily used, and the construction and operation will be readilyunderstood by reference to the drawings, when 5 takeninconnectionwiththeforegoingdescripl tion.

Having thus fully described my invention, What 1 claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1o 1. In a truss, the pad-frame provided with the yielding stud workingin a slot in the back plate of said frame, and held to its normalposition when disconnected from its strap by the spring G, constructedand operating 15 substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

LEVI WESTINGHOUSE.

Witnesses:

JoEL R. VAIL, HERMAN BUELTMAN.

